Coexist With Christmas

Coexist with Christmas

Like a bird singing in the cold of night,

when multitudes of angels

crawled and hovered above 

God walked into the world with a child in His arms.

The shepherds gave a reception, the stargazers

brought gifts to the harbinger of heaven,

the wise men momentarily lost their wisdom

to seek the sunshine of His face.

Then he grew under our sky, under the same loving Eye,

drank the planet’s water, browned in our sun,

for a brief moment – an alien in this world

just as you and I.

In this earthly rotation: blossoms break forth,

summer scorches, leaves fly, snow flies

to bring us to this annual déjà vu,

when hearts thaw and generosity

puffs out its proud chest, and we rush

in the frenetic, glorious mess of holidays.

Now, in this moment – coexist

with the reality of the day.

When the first wet snowflake touches 

your windshield, and you are singing

with the radio about roasting chestnuts,

hear the bird singing in the night,

sense God waiting to greet you

when the celebration is over,

give the midwinter gift of forgiving yourself,

and cast the remnant of your heart to Him.

Diane Vogel Ferri